Conquering Air and Space Timeline

The original Rockwell International B-1 supersonic bomber prototype first flew in 1974, but the program was canceled and then revived in October 1981. The production swing-wing B-1Bs had a top speed of 792 miles per hour.

Peter M. Bowers Collection

March 28, 1980 Learjet, produces its 1,000th aircraft.

April 9-October 11, 1980 The Soyuz 35 crew sets a new space record at Salyut 6: 184 days, 20 hours, and 12 minutes.

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April 24-25, 1980 Eight RH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters from the USS Nimitz attempt to rescue U.S. hostages, but efforts are aborted. One of the helicopters later collides with a C-130.

May 18, 1980 The People's Republic of China launches a prototype ICBM.

June 4, 1980 A Japanese F-15 Eagle makes its first flight in St. Louis. Most will be manufactured in Japan.

June 20, 1980 The Beech C99 commuter airliner debuts.

July 12, 1980 The McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender tanker makes its first flight.

July 18, 1980 India becomes the seventh nation to launch an artificial satellite, called the Rohini 1.

July 21, 1980 The F-16 is formally named the Fighting Falcon in honor of the Air Force Academy.

August 7, 1980 The MacCready Gossamer Penguin makes its first solar-powered flight.

August 9, 1980 Famous American pilot Jacqueline Cochran dies. She was the first woman to fly faster than the speed of sound.

September 25, 1980 The Cameron D-38, a hot-airship, makes its first flight.

November 12, 1980 Voyager 1 flies within 77,000 miles of Saturn.

November 18-21, 1980 Judith Chisholm establishes a record for women between England and Australia, with a flight of 3 days, 13 hours in a Cessna Turbo Centurion.

November 20, 1980 The MacCready Solar Challenger makes its first flight on solar power alone.